By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
CLAREMONT – Two members of the Claremont Housing Authority (CHA) commission resigned last week, leaving two vacancies to be filled.
Judith Austin and chairperson Wendy Hodgdon both announced their resignation from the board. Austin, who has been absent from most meetings, stepped down for health reasons. Hodgdon resigned without making a public comment.
Meetings of the CHA have been contentious for the past year, beginning with confusion over the resignation of Allen Peterson in January 2018.
Peterson never submitted a letter of resignation. He said an off-hand remark he made to someone in administration at Marion Phillips Senior Apartments was treated as if he had formally resigned. He was surprised to find out third-hand that he had resigned and that a new person had been appointed.
Robin Butterfield, who was the chair at the beginning of 2018, relinquished her role as chair in April 2018 and later resigned from the board. Kathleen O’Brien and Liane Westcott were appointed as resident commissioners in early 2018. Doreen Needham was appointed to the board in December 2018.
Board members serve a five-year term that begins June 1.
Applications to serve on a city board or commission are processed by DeForest Bearse, secretary of boards and commissions, who submits those applications to the appropriate appointing authority. For the CHA, the appointing authority is the city manager.
The five-member board meets once a month, 4 p.m. on the fourth Monday, at Marion Phillips Apartments on Broad Street.
To apply, send a letter of interest to DeForest Bearse at 14 North St., Claremont, or email [email protected]
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.